Global Booster Collectors knew what they were getting in to!
Collectors Editions are in Japanese as well, I had to buy an entire box last time because no one was selling them individually.
It looks like the last few sets have dropped down to three pictures on the wrappers, if this continues that will save a bit of money as usually the large set and the Core set have five pictures. Just that alone will save around $132 for each release that used to have 5 pictures.Every little helps!
Maybe boosters as we know it are coming to an end anyway
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/hasbr ... ck_seemore
Published: Aug 20, 2019 9:00 a.m. ET
Hasbro Inc. HAS, -0.49% said Tuesday that it will begin phasing out plastic from new product packaging starting in 2020. That will include window sheets, shrink wrap, elastic bands and more. Virtually all plastic packaging will be eliminated by the end of 2022. Hasbro stock has gained 41.5% for the year to date while the S&P 500 index SPX, -0.79% is up 16.6% for the period.
Maybe they are transitioning to the Theme Boosters completely.
Just wildly speculating but...
A single Draft Booster of 15 cards is not enough for a draft, you need three per person (I think, I have never drafted).
Plastic packaging is on the way out.
Cardboard 15 card boosters were trialed but open to abuse and repacking.
Cardboard Theme boosters of 35 cards are here to stay (even though they have plastic inside for the moment)
You would only need to add 10 cards to the theme booster to have enough for a draft.
I can't imagine MtG without Boosters but they seem less and less relevant to players as time goes on. The online versions are probably more convenient, competitive players can buy singles without needing to open packs. Collectors can buy complete sets without opening lots of duplicates. My local Supermarkets and Toy Store carry Pokemon Boosters but don't stock MtG, even the local market has fake boosters for Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh but don't have any fake MtG.
If Drafting counts for the majority of sales then it would make sense to switch to a product more suitable for drafting.
Until then I will keep trying to track down old boosters and keep up with all the new releases.